Without a doubt Iglesia de San Francisco El Grande is one of my favorite churches to photograph. There’s always so much going on there and the fact that inside this temple you can find the remains of Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt makes it even more interesting for people to visit. I also like the architectonic complex

Here are some additional pages with information about San Francisco El Grande church, take a look at them and then share with us which one was your favorite photo or page.

• The San Francisco El Grande Church
• Dome of San Francisco El Grande Church
• Monk in San Francisco El Grande Church

Server issues aside:

I am sorry about the delays and having missed the daily post promise. I had to changed servers and the migration was not as smooth as I had wished. I ended up losing two days of posts, and having to wait three days for the DNS servers to update the new server address. Furthermore, I have been having issues with time outs and out of memory errors that prevent me posting in a daily manner. Please, be patient, I am already working hard to resolve all these technological issues. Things should normalize pretty soon.

I came across this list of Five Reasons to Spend Christmas in Antigua Guatemala, which basically mentioned the weather as top reason number 2. I would say the writer got most of it right, except the temperature can go as low as 5C/41F around six in the morning; people do give Christmas cards, except they are given personally because we don’t trust the mail system or by email; and last but not least, the winter solstice was not even mentioned. And don’t forget that the December 2012 solstice will be very important. Even if it’s not the end of the world as we know it, check out the Tikal Solstice Maya Rainforest video made by Thor Janson.

• Christmas in Antigua Guatemala Reason #1 – Low Crassness Factor

  Antigua Guatemala keeps a light hand on the Christmas throttle. It’s not like the in-your-face fake and be merry season, which starts before Halloween and is endured in our more Northern climes… Overall, there’s less tinsel and more gentle feeling as citizens and visitors alike coast into the season…

• Christmas in Antigua Guatemala Reason #2 – The Weather

  … Antigua Guatemala is a yuletide paradise. Even during the December days when daylight is at its shortest reign of the year, it’s usually about 75 degrees F (24 C) during the day and about 55 degrees F (13 C) in the evening…

• Christmas in Antigua Guatemala Reason #3 – No Christmas Cards

  It seems that sending Christmas cards is not a tradition here… After, I’d gone to the third stationary shop (duh) it finally sunk in that this is not the done thing here…

• Christmas in Antigua Guatemala Reason # 4 – Christmas Festivals

  December 7 kicks off the season with the burning of the devil… Our Lady of Guadeloupe brings solemn as well as merry folk through the calles and agendas… “Las Posadas,” which reenacts Mary and Joseph looking for a room in the inn…

• Christmas in Antigua Guatemala Reason #5 – Its Really a Family Time

  …when it comes down to it, December 24 is really family time where church, a great meal and modest gift exchanges happen… families go back home and eat and party until 3 or 4 in the morning. Christmas Day is very quiet here with people sleeping off the festivities of the night before… continue reading the COMPLETE Five Reasons to Spend Christmas in Antigua Guatemala

Simply awesome! Check out the Tikal Solstice Maya Rainforest video made by Thor Janson:

This is among my favorite photographic subjects: repetition, arches, and Palacio de Los Capitanes Generales. I don’t think I will ever get tired of photographing this building. In fact, I should do a series with just photos of Palace of the Captains which should include everything from details to not often seen sections of the inside. What do you recommend?

Now this is what the dry season looks like in Antigua Guatemala; sunshine, deep blue skies, beautiful light, cold winds and almost now clouds. As always, follow the white rabbit to see more photos and read about Palacio de los Capitanes Generales of Santiago de Guatemala.

Even though at first I didn’t like the pastel yellow plaster applied to the newly restored Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, now I have to admit it is growing on me.

Here’s the background information about the restoration works:

After two and half years and Q16 millions/$2 millions spent in renovations Palacio de Los Capitanes has finally opened again. The new façade is painted with yellow and white paint. According to an article in Prensa Libre, CNPAG, the entity in charge of restoring and protecting La Antigua Guatemala, also removed 15 tons of extra weight. There is still a second restoration phase quoted at Q14 million more to be done.

If you’re interested in looking at the façade of Palacio de Los Capitanes before the renovations, please follow the white rabbit to the Palacio de Los Capitanes archives.

1. Arches Are Us
2. Visit The Time Tunnel
3. Captains’ Palace at night in Antigua Guatemala
4. Architectonic Details: Arches
5. Leaders of Guatemala’s Independence Movement
6. Municipal Band Concerts on Fridays

The Mayan arch is not often found in contemporary Guatemalan architecture, so it’s refreshing to find it at a friend’s home. In colonial times they also used the Mayan arch in La Antigua Guatemala. Two places where one can find the Mayan arch are in the ruins behind the Cathedral and in the hallway area in the La Merced Church monastery, right before you take the staircase to the second floor.

What other places in La Antigua Guatemala have you seen the Mayan arch?

El arco maya no es muy común en la architectura guatemalteca contemporánea, por eso es refrescante cuando la encuentro en la casa de un amigo. En tiempos de la colonia también utilizaron el arco maya en La Antigua Guatemala. Dos lugares dónde uno puede encontrar muestras o vestigios del arco maya son dentro del complejo de ruinas en la parte trasera de la Catedral y en el monasterio de la iglesia de La Merced, justo antes de tomar las gradas que lo llevan al segundo nivel.

¿Dónde más han encontrado ustedes el arco maya en La Antigua Guatemala?

Palacio de Doña Leonor, one of our loyal premium sponsors, is a gorgeous hotel located only steps from Parque Central. Palacio de Doña Leonor also has a restaurant and bar which I’ve been meaning to check out for a long time. Recently I learned that they’re having a Monday Martini Night with live acoustical music every week starting at 6 pm. Click the flyer thumbnail to see their Monday special. I think I will have to sacrifice myself again for the benefit of you, my loyal readers, and the first Monday I get a chance I will order a few martinis, shaken, stirred, chilled or on ice, dry, sweet or with a twist. Heck, why not try them all in all the different versions; I mean is there a better way to start the week? Who wants to come along?

Yes Eric, Palacio de los Capitanes will be the new building for Museo de Santiago, which is the city and departamento’s museum. Museo de Armas de Santiago was, and still is for now, located next to the Municipal government offices; perhaps on the same building and that’s where the original mermaids were on display.

The night of the Antigua Guatemala Brand launching event I learned from the general director of museums of Guatemala that Palacio de los Capitanes (Palace of the Captains) will be the new location for Museo de Santiago, which will open its door to the public on May 18. Some of you may remember that May 18th is the International Museums Day; as always, follow the white rabbit. Ah… life is good in La Antigua Guatemala!

Remember, you heard it first at AntiguaDailyPhoto!

One of the benefits of having attended the Antigua Guatemala Brand launching event was to have unlimited access to the inside of the newly restored Palacio de los Capitanes building. Certainly you remember the recent pages which showed you the new look of the palace after the restoration works, right? If not check out New Illumination for Palacio de Los Capitanes and New Look of Palacio de Los Capitanes. You can also browse all the previous pages about Palacio de los Capitanes (Palace of the Captains) to see before and after photographs.

Today’s photo, however, is the first time I have shown the inside of Palacio de los Capitanes and the wonderful restoration work. Also, pay attention to the dramatic illumination that was installed as part of the restoration work. What do you think, do you like the restoration work so far?

Come back tomorrow if you want to learn the latest news regarding what will be the use for Palacio de los Capitanes building. Below I leave you with the background information regarding the restoration as previously published in AntiguaDailyPhoto.

After two and half years and Q16 millions/$2 millions spent in renovations Palacio de Los Capitanes has finally opened again. The new façade is painted with yellow and white paint. According to an article in Prensa Libre, CNPAG, the entity in charge of restoring and protecting La Antigua Guatemala, also removed 15 tons of extra weight. There is still a second restoration phase quoted at Q14 million more to be done.

If I had a penny for each yellow arch in La Antigua Guatemala!

Well, if Arturo can experiment with contrasts in black and white, I would like to give a try with color. Perhaps, my photo is not as exquisite as Arturo’s take on Convento de Las Capuchinas, but at least I have some contrast between the yellow and blue.

Have you taken a photographic tour through the many arches of La Antigua Guatemala?

While Arturo was playing with his camera mounted on a tripod to take his signature sunsets, I decided to look in the opposite direction and capture the fleeting light bathing the Tanque de La Unión. Even though it doesn’t seem like it was twilight, I can assure you it was, thus there wasn’t enough light to capture this photo unless one takes it in manual mode and let it expose for a longer time. The actual expose time was 0.3 of a second at f2.8 taken at 6:07 pm, which is quite difficult to do without a tripod and a remote shutter; any longer than 1/30 of a second (0.033) normally means blurry pictures. For not having a tripod or remote shutter I am quite happy with the result as well as the saturated colors. What do you think?

Here’s once again my dear friend Nelo being such an accomodating model for my take on Antigua Guatemala’s version of El Mariachi (Desperado).

I hope you like it. Let me know your thoughts either way!

Early on I had been bewitched by the abstract possibilities found in every nook and cranny of this enchanting and vibrant sleepy little town. By day 100 with entries like Antigua Colors, I began collecting the bit and pieces of what will become my Antigua Abstracta photo exhibit. A few other samples captured along the way are found in New Aesthetic Values of an Old Town, Upside Down Arches, Shadow Casting Lamp, Dome Roof Details, and most photos in the tagged with Textura, just to list a few images.

I hope to have all the images, the venue and the Antigua Abstracta exhibit ready before the end of the year!

Of course you don’t have to wait until my next photo exhibition to acquired high quality prints to decorate your or your loved one’s home or office walls since you can purchase them at any time, like right now!

A creative framing on a quiet afternoon with just the right amount and kind of people and we get a post card from the past. Of course I could Photoshop out a couple things to make even more convincing, but I am sure most people will not notice them anyway.

What do you think? Do you feel as if you were looking into the past? Do you like this perspective of all the arches of Palacio de los Capitanes?

Below you can browse additional posts of Palacio de los Capitanes:

1. Arches Are Us
2. Visit The Time Tunnel
3. Captains’ Palace at night in Antigua Guatemala
4. Architectonic Details: Arches
5. Leaders of Guatemala’s Independence Movement
6. Municipal Band Concerts on Fridays

El Palacio de los Capitanes building has to be one of my favorites edifices with lots of arches; and you know I love Arches. I also love repetition so it is no wonder that often have tried to capture the arching repetition found in the Captains’ Palace as well as in other buildings with mix results.

Here are some of my attempts, let me know which you like the best:

1. Visit The Time Tunnel
2. Captains’ Palace at night in Antigua Guatemala
3. Architectonic Details: Arches
4. Leaders of Guatemala’s Independence Movement
5. Municipal Band Concerts on Fridays

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